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-13- early planning or in helping the researchers in analysis and integration during the study. Had experienced scientists been involved, the results almost certainly would have been more satisfactory and useful. Such an advisory group could have aided the researchers as their work progressed and might have been able to make smooth mid-course corrections as opportunities arose. The committee was especially aware of this need because of the difficulty it encountered in its advisory capacity at the end of the GCES study period. Future work by the Department of the Interior should seek to • bring senior scientists~n at the beginning of e~iro~ental studies • establish a scientific oversight-grew _ ti separate agency administration from scientific oversigh -•-est blish a report integration team at the beginning of such a project rather than at the end Lack of Contingency Planning In any environmental study of a river, unexpected events may occur and should be considered in the planning phase of the study. During the 20-year period preceding the study, the flow in the river was controlled, usually with low flows so Lake Powell would fill. Variations in flows reflected variations in demand for hydroelectric power. With the reservoir at full storage capacity, however, the probability of uncontrolled flow (spill or flood) increased dramatically. Extraordinarily high runoff from spring thaw combined with late snows and rains in 1983 produced an unexpected inflow to an already full Lake Powell. Release of the water required the use of the bypass tubes and the spillways and produced higher flows in the river than had been experienced for at least two decades.